Soyabean farmers bemoan drop in demand, price of crop over ban on exports
The Ghana Soyabean Farmers and Aggregators Association has called for the repeal of the Legislative Instrument (L.I. 2432) imposing a ban on the export and import of soyabeans.
In a press conference held by the Association on April 24, 2023, the Association noted that due to ban on the crop since September 2021, the farm gate price of soyabean has dropped to GHS 400 from the previous price of GHS 600.
Additionally, the demand for the crop has witnessed a significant decline with both local and foreign investors gradually withdrawing their investments in soyabean production.
Given the prevailing difficulties faced by farmers and the soyabean industry at large, the Association is of the view that, there was no need for the passage of the L.I. 2432.
The Association is therefore recommending that a 7 member committee be aet up by government to license exporters of soyabeans should be dissolved immediately.
Also, government without delay should repeal the export and import restriction of soyabean regulation 2020 (L.I. 2432) and lift the ban on soyabeans exportation to allow Ghanaian farmers make money from their toil.
The Export and Import Restriction of Soyabeans Regulation 2020 (L.I. 2432) passed on October 5, 2020 was to provide a licensing system for exportation of soyabeans in commercial quantities out of Ghana to ensure availability of soyabeans for domestic use to meet local processing requirement for animal production.
The imposition of the ban, farmers say, has become a thorn in the flesh as government agencies use the L.I. to obstruct soyabeans trade in and out of the country.
I don’t really understand the government we are having in this country now, because everything is messed up, cause of living have become very high and they don’t seems to be concerned, farmers are dying of poverty but since they have no love for anyone except their family and friends, they don’t care about what is happening to the poor famers. Cause of everything is very high except the farm produce, and when we sell our produce and go to market we can’t even buy anything. In fact Akofu Addo have proven to Ghanaian that we were stupid by making him the president of this country.
It’s really sad to see farmers suffering to gain something, only to realize that all their effort is cost ninety
The government need to seriously look into this matter aaba